Welcome to the InvestComics Hot Picks for new comic releases on 2-6-13

So what’s better than the actual football game on Superbowl Sunday you ask? Two things; the new commercials and InvestComics Hot Picks of course! Duh!

Lots to cover this week, but before we do, InvestComics would like to give a warm hearty welcome to a new sponsor. Humanoids! Humanoids is an amazing brand of novels that if you are a fan of reading great stories with all around high quality, this is for you. Please go check them out by clicking right HERE, they have an amazingly user friendly website where you can easily navigate your way through a ton of really cool comic books, graphic novels and other things. Humanoids!

If you’re a regular reader of the InvestComics Hot Picks, you probably know by now that we love the New 52 and Marvel NOW! For one simple reason. Well maybe a couple, but the main reason is the introduction of new ideas which in turn comes back to the reader/fan in the form of new characters and the return of old forgotten ones. This week in no exception with comics like Detective Comics (2011 2nd Series) #17 from DC. New villains will be hitting that issue. Earth 2 (2012 DC) #9 features the return of the new Wotan. Wotan first appeared way back in 1940 and comes with a $30,000 price tag. A first appearance of Wotan is worth that much you ask? Well yes and no. It is, but it also happens to be the first appearance of Dr. Fate. Avengers Assemble (2012) Annual #1 gives fans the return of Sunturion. Sunny first showed up in Iron Man #143 (1981). The creative team is enough for this collector to go searching for this book. John Romita Jr. on pencils and Mr. Iron Man writer himself Bob Layton. No need to second guess buying this comic for a few bucks. The issue also features a turning point for one of the most underrated characters within the Marvel library. Buy the Avengers #57 (1968) at any price you can and stash it away. When Vision finally makes it to the big screen you will kicking yourself that you did not pick this comic up at a reasonable price when you had the chance. Vision’s first appearance is a long term investment that has tremendous upside, do not wait. Fearless Defenders (2013) #1 is one of those comics that many of the comic book store owners will hear a collective sigh when the collector’s see it on the shelf. It features two second (third?) rate female characters; Valkyrie and Misty Knight. The ::sigh:: will be warranted. Most female lead comics have a very hard time sustaining long term interest. Birds of Prey were a great tandem, but that too grew tired with the fans. For some reason female leads do not tend to hold their own comics for very long. They make spectacular team players and there are very strong female characters out there. Some; most are even better than the men! Yes, Wonder Woman has succeeded in many ways, but how many relaunch’s, status changes, costume changes has she endured? Case in point. So will the Valkyrie (first appearance Avengers #83 -1970)/Misty Knight (first appearance Marvel Premiere #21 – 1975; Gil Kane cover) team up be any different this time around? Well this time….maybe. Remember a couple of weeks ago when InvestComics carried some news about some dude named Cullen Bunn of the Sixth Gun comic getting picked up for a pilot from NBC? Well that guy, he’s writing Fearless Defenders #1. So yes, maybe this time will be a bit different. Staying with the female theme here we also have Young Romance New 52 Valentines Day Special (2013) #1 coming out this week. This is DC’s very big attempt to test out the female market. Will the female fans buy into the comic book romance novel? Most men certainly aren’t. This isn’t a knock or anything, it’s just truth. Look at that awesome cover of Superman and Woman Woman in a make out session. Is this really geared towards men? If it were part of the storyline going through Justice League, yes, but a one shot of love story after love story pertaining to Valentine’s day? This is a fantastic way for DC to test the waters, but one possible fatal mistake they have made is a biggie. A $7.99 price tag is a bit steep guys. Having a two issue run leading up to Valentine’s Day next week would have made more sense. Now getting back to what some females may do to us men is driving us to be Madmen! Well not really, but it’s a silly lead in to Thunderbolts (2012 2nd Series) #4. This issue will focuses on the return of Madman. The Madman first appeared in the Incredible Hulk #363 (1989). Writer Peter David does the introductions here, so not bad for a quick search through some long boxes at the local comic shop or convention.

HOT PICKS

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Okay so we spoke about the GOOD that the new ideas from the New 52 and Marvel NOW! brings. On the annoying end of the spectrum we get books like Winter Soldier (2012) #15 and Iron Man (2012 5th Series) #6. Why are they on that side you ask? Well for the simple fact that we get the proverbial “new status quo” or “all new direction”. Really?? You’re 15 issues in and 6 issues in respectively. This is Marvel saying they are not really hitting the target they want to, so things need to “change”. No they don’t. Keeping up with a good story helps and or maybe, just maybe fans aren’t interested anymore. Don’t think so? How about learning on the recent InvestComics Podcast Breaking the 4th Wall Episode #3 with Shaun Cobble and Shaun Sorenson that Winter Soldier will be canceled. So what’s the new status quo matter now with the Winter book?

Justice League #1 – First Appearances

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Justice League #1 will be making its splash with 52 variant covers. The variant covers are extremely disappointing to say the least. The SAME cover with a different State flag? Wow, that is lame beyond lame. Why not have better planning here and have each state represented with its core city and its landmark? New York with Superman flying by the Statue of Liberty, Batman at the Arc in St. Louis, Wonder Woman hanging out at Fenway Park, you get the idea. This would have generated a tremendous amount buzz for each city, thus creating a big aftermarket blitz. Instead we get flags? Anyway, let’s focus on the team members for the first issue and their first appearances. We’ll go from high to low. Scroll through the covers below for a side by side of the new Justice book with the first appearance cover.

Catwoman: First appeared in Batman #1 (1940). If you need any explanation here, stop reading and go watch the Superbowl pre-game for 10 hours.

Green Lantern: All American Comics #16 (1940). See above.

Green Arrow: More Fun Comics #53 (1941). This comic will garner more attention as the Arrow show continues to do well, also with the possibility of him appearing in the new Justice League movie.

Hawkman: Flash Comics #1 (1940). Refer back to the comment early regarding female leads. The same applies for a lot men character’s as well. Hawkman is a good team oriented player, not so much a solo character.

The last order of business comes on the heels of Brian Michael Bendis recently saying this on Bleeding Cool.com: “Truthfully, if ever the day comes that Rom could legally appear in a Marvel comic, whatever story I’m in the middle of writing, Rom will crash into it. I don’t care who it is talking, Rom is going to crash into their head.” With that, the market on the Rom #1 enters into the Bull market (buy market). Marvel will get Rom in their books again and maybe even in the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie. I sound confident here don’t I? Well ask me the same thing BEFORE Disney bought out Marvel and most likely the tone here would be vastly different. With the talk of Rom came Rocket Raccoon too. InvestComics has told collectors time after time to pick up Marvel Preview #7 (1976), the first appearance of the rodent. The comic has gone from a $10 book to over $100 already. Here’s the good news bad news deal. Bad news, you missed out on getting a $10 book. Good news is there is more upside to this comic right now than anything else mentioned in this article. That’s right fans. You may be looking at the modern day Yoda, but in Raccoon form. As for Rom #1, you need to get this copies now! Get high grades at $8 apiece, send them off to CGC and reap the rewards when Rom comes back…..home.

That’s it for this week. Don’t forget to enter to win a FREE Signed copy of my comic Vincent Price House of Horrors #1 on the InvestComics Facebook page. Click at the beginning of this article to become a fan on the InvestComics Facebook page now!

(ALL Articles are Property of InvestComics. Any duplication or reproduction of this article, newsletter and or pictures and video of original InvestComics content is strictly prohibited without express written consent from InvestComics.)

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Welcome to the InvestComics Comic Hot Picks for 9-26-12.

This week the new Judge Dredd film (Dredd 3D) opened and InvestComics wants to send out a little reminder to fans that may have missed this, but the composer of the film; Paul Leonard-Morgan was interviewed on InvestComics. It was an extensive/detailed Interview that covered everything in Mr. Leonard-Morgan’s career from music acts like Snow Patrol to composing a film. Fantastic stuff here folks. Click right HERE to read that interview.

DC Comics continue their rampage of Zero issues, so without any further ado……

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The flagship character of DC gets his zero treatment this week. In Superman #0 Jor-El learns about the imminent destruction of Krypton. This may fall into the who cares category, but then again as these zero issues come out, there seems to be a lot more of the “eh’” factor coming in. Superman first appeared in…….well if you don’t know this, close the browser you’re reading this on and go watch some Adventure Time.

Savage Hawkman #0 and Flash #0 share a similarity this week, both of them first appeared in the same book. That comic is Flash Comics #1 from 1940. A cool book to own because you get a two for the price of one deal!

Teen Titans #0 main focus will be on the Tim Drake origin, but do we really care about Tim anymore? So let’s look for the debut of the Teen Titans instead. This happened all the way back in The Brave and the Bold #54 (1964). An investment worth looking into as oppose to the first Tim Drake.

Another nice affordable first appearance issue would be Firestorm #1 (1978) to coincide with the Fury of Firestorm #0 issue. The debut of Firestorm was accompanied by names like Al Milgrom, Joe Rubinstein and Klaus Janson. Imagine Firestorm on the big screen, how cool would that be? Warner Bros. really needs to jump on this superhero movie stuff, so behind it’s comical.

Back to creator Klaus Janson for a minute in relation with Batman The Dark Knight #0 coming out. Batman has always been the Dark Knight, but never did it culminate more so than the debut of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. The true history and debut of the “Dark Knight” happened in 1986.

Aquaman #0 will continue to show why Aquaman is a total badas* these days. Check out this zero issue for the first look at Atlantis. The water man’s first appearance came in 1941’s More Fun Comics #73.

DC Comics is dead set on proving that there is a place for old western style comics (see romance comics?). Although the western comics are holding up some, we await to see the true test here….time. All Star Western #0 is brought to you by Palimiotti and Gray. Having these two creators will always be a reason for these comics to sell! Learn how Johan Hex got that scar on his face in this zero issue. The first All-Star Western comic debuted in 1958; All-Star Western #58. A dynamic tandem on this book as well. Carmine Infantino on pencils and a Gil Kane cover. With legends like that on a book, who needs more of an excuse to get this comic?

Staying on topic of legends, Justice League Dark #0 gives the early day story of a character named John Constantine. John’s true early day story, or debut if you will happened in The Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 (1985). Penciled by Rick Veitch and written by legend Alan Moore.

Now going moving onto the modern day debuts we come to Red Lanterns #0 and Talon #0. The Red Lantern Corp first sprung up in Green Lantern #25(2007), much thanks to a creator building his own indelible mark on the industry; Mr. Geoff Johns. Scott Synder and Greg Caputo are putting their stamp on the New 52 Batman series. Churning out stories that are selling like hot cakes. Expect Talon #0 to sell out quickly. Talon was created in the New 52 Batman series in issue number two from this past year.

An interesting number one issue is headed this way from DC; National Comics Rose and Thorn #1. Look for Thorn or Rose, well it’s the same person in their her debut in Flash Comics #89 from 1947. Think she would have gone to find good help with this split personality disorder by now?

Down the stretch they come…..DC’s Relaunch will be officially over this week. What a crazy 4 weeks it has been. DC hit a home run with this campaign, and NOW the hard part is coming up for them. Will they be able to sustain the interest of the comic book world with issue number 2, 3, 4, and so forth.

So without further ado, let’s get started with the final week of DC’s new look.

There are several comics that have been covered already in the past few weeks, let’s get them out of the way.

Flash #1 & The Savage Hawkman #1 – Let’s all be honest here, the only reason Flash is cool equates to 2 words. Geoff Johns. Without him, Green Lantern wouldn’t be cool, Flash wouldn’t be cool, and Aquaman wouldn’t be cool. Yea that’s right Aquaman. Look for the water guy to be Geoff’s next big conquest. But this isn’t about the Aqua, this is about the Flash. Flash’s first appearance goes for a big payday in around the 160k mark in Flash Comics #1(1940). Incidentally, this comic also has the first appearance of Johnny Thunder AND Hawkman. So looking at 160k for “2” very nice 1st appearances seems like a bargain at the moment.

Blackhawks #1 – Although this comic from Costa/Nolan feels like it’s going to be a fun book; it’s not a book many are dying to get their hands on. This can all change of course in a matter of a weeks’ notice, but not a comic that will fly off the shelves. The same holds true for the first appearance of Blackhawk. No much demand here, but a fine book nonetheless. Coming in at $14,000 is Military Comics #1(1941). You want one of the beauties of this comic? It comes with legend Will Eisner all over it. Nuff said.

Teen Titans #1 – Here is the comic book world’s favorite teen team in a number one issue…..again. Maybe creators Lobdell/Booth will bring a total different flavor and blow everyone away. Let’s hope. The Brave and The Bold #54(1960) has the first look at our teenage heroes. At only $860, this comic feels like it’s flying under the radar a bit.

All Star Western #1 – Are fans ready for a full out western comic? With Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray attached to this book, a resounding HELL’S YEA! All Star Western Comics made their debut with DC’s All Star line ending with issue #57 and becoming All Star Western #58(1951), a $600 book with an awesome Gil Kane cover. Nuff said, again.

Justice League Dark #1 – Lots of characters to check out in this one. Let’s start with Deadman. Find his deal in Hot Picks Part 3. John Constantine’s 1st in Saga of the Swamp Thing #37(1985) $30. Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman #4 (1964) $400. Madame Xanadu’s first calling was in Doorway to Nightmare #1 (1978) $16. And Shade the Changing Man #1 (1977) debuted from his creator Steve Ditko. The bargain of the bunch at only $16.

The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1 – Okay so we have a plural in the title which means we have 2 to cover here. Jason Rusch – Firestorm #1 (2004) (probably find this comic in the 1 dollar bins at your local comic shop or comic show), and Ronnie Raymond – Firestorm #1 (1978) from George Perez for $12?? Yes getting the latter would be a very wise move. Jason and Ronnie began their mancrush in Blackest Night #3 (2009). Get this comic at cover price or check that dollar bin again.

Also coming from DC this week, a couple of try out books in Voodoo #1, I, Vampire #1 and a mainstay in Green Lantern New Guardians #1.

And there you have it. 4 weeks of DC goodness from DC and InvestComics! Check out by clicking Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3 for the entire run on InvestComics.